Christian Liberty & Maturity
Modern Problems Ancient Solutions • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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How Mature Christians Handle Freedom
How Mature Christians Handle Freedom
Modern Problem:
Modern Problem:
We don't know what to do when the Bible doesn't tell us what to do.
Many Christians struggle when it comes to the gray areas
There are thousands of decisions we make every day…
That the Bible never specifically addresses:
Can I do this/that?
Can I watch this movie/show?
Can I listen to this music?
Can I celebrate this holiday?
Can I participate in this activity?
Can I attend this event?
Can I eat/drink this?
Can I wear this?
Can I post this?
Can I vote this way?
Can I do this if another Christian thinks it's wrong?
These & many questions like them…
Have been answered in different ways throughout history
Many have struggled with how to live faithfully…
In areas where Scripture gives principles instead of specific rules
And this often leads to 2 opposing problems:
On one side they say:
"If the Bible doesn't specifically tell me I can, then I can’t."
This leads to man-made traditions & personal convictions…
Becoming indistinguishable from God’s commands
Thus creating rules where God has given freedom
These are people who have become dependent…
On a list of do’s & don’ts…
Rather than using wisdom & discernment
On the other side they say:
"If the Bible doesn't specifically tell me I can't, then I can."
They treat freedom as a license to do whatever they want
They may have legitimate freedom in that area…
But they take advantage of it without considering…
The influence it could have on themselves, others, or the gospel
Thankfully, we have Paul to show us a more mature approach
He shows us how to think…
When the Scriptures don’t explicitly command or forbid something
Paul writes about a very specific freedom that the Corinthians had…
But the principle behind what he tells them is very broad
He teaches them that:
Christian liberties shouldn’t be seized for our own satisfaction/benefit
Christians should approach our freedoms…
With the goal of loving others & glorifying God
1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.”1
8 It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do. 9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.
Many of the Corinthians knew they had freedom to eat meat offered to idols
But there were some (likely those who recently left paganism)…
Whose consciences wouldn’t allow them to do the same
The point that Paul is making is this:
“You Corinthians are asking, ‘Can I eat meat offered to idols?’
“But the question you should be asking is…”
“‘Should I eat meat offered to idols?’”
There’s a major difference in those questions
Just because you can do something…
Doesn’t mean you should
Their theology was correct, but their attitude wasn’t
We like to ask the question:
“What am I allowed to do?”
But some more mature questions are:
“How will this affect my brother/sister in Christ?”
Paul goes on to us himself as an example:
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?
4 Do we not have the right to financial support?
5 Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves? 7 What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk?
11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ. 13 Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. 15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.
18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. 19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
Paul speaks of his own personal freedoms & rights…
And how he gave them up to remove any obstacles to bringing others to Jesus
Mature Christian liberty isn’t about:
Taking full advantage of our rights
Or doing whatever we want with our freedom
Mature Christian liberty is about surrendering one’s rights…
And using one’s freedoms for the benefit of others
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.
Paul, more than anyone, knew that there is much freedom in Christ
But he didn’t become a slave to his freedoms
His goal was to benefit others & glorify God
When facing a gray-area question…
A wise Christian will ask deeper questions:
“Is it sinful?”
“Is it beneficial?”
“Will it build others up or tear others down?”
“Will it help or hinder the gospel?”
“Will it glorify God?”
One clarification that needs to be addressed is something often labeled:
The Tyranny of the Weaker Brother
That is, the most easily offended person gets to make all the decisions
That’s not what Paul is teaching
The weak brother is someone:
Whose conscience is genuinely wounded
Who is led into sin…
Because of a decision you have made
The weak brother is not someone:
Whose personal opinions on a gray-area are different than you own…
And who simply wants to bind their conscience & conclusions on everyone else
A weak conscience needs to be loved, protected, & strengthened
A controlling spirit needs to be rebuked
Jesus & Paul dealt lovingly & gently…
With those who needed more spiritual maturity
But they dealt sharply with those, like the Pharisees & Judaizers…
Who simply sought to bind their strict consciences on others
There is liberty in Christ when it comes to many areas of life
God didn’t give us a 500,000 page law book that deals with every decision we could make
He chose something better:
To provide us with principles (Love being the greatest)…
That, if wisely held, will inform us on what path is best
Things aren’t always Right vs. Wrong
Something we have to think of terms of:
What is good?
What is better?
What is best?
